Rotary steam peeling machine



May 12, 1953 w. DE BACK 2,533,137

ROTARY STEAM FEELING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WILLIAM BE BACK ATTORNEY May 12, 1953 w. 01-: BACK ROTARY STEAM FEELING MACHINE ,4 Sheefs-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1949 .N N: K E m. w kw om R n. a NN 9 .N w m Nm 2: up m v m N: E u m u A Q on a on Q ow Q on 0: m. N. E S. $2 w m0 my M6 3. 3v 2 n2 mm a. r: v mww m: NN 1 km. N@ I N mum Y O v v? 8 MW mm N vm Wm 9w 1 5 mm 47 mm mm mm on m6 E mm mm ow an. y Nv om Mn. \M\ \W 00 mv. 5. w NM: m: 3 2 mm N9 m: no. 2. $9 No. 9 mo. k i no. we. m9 x \ow\ .9 m9 m2 v #9 9 mm, a. n x mm m9 3 MN E E 2 mn mfiml i 2 May 12, 1953 w. DE BACK 2,638,137

ROTARY STEAM FEELING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR WILLIAM DE 8467f BY/saq & iTTORQEY I Patented May 12, 1953 1 7 l Claims; 1 The; present invention appertains. to rotary steam" peeling machines;

More-particularly, it relates to animproveinent inirotary steam peeling machines for. loosening. and Iemoving the. skins .of Lthimskinned fruit and t vegetableproductsu An object-lof'the. present .invention is to provideanlimprovedfsteam peeler for food products.

Another. object is. to provide a rotary steam;

peeler for. foodproducts wherein foodj products may-be fedjand .processedin. a simple, rapiclfcycle.

Another. object .is...to.. provide an improved. ro-

tary! steam.pee1er, for. foodji products with improved pressure sealing and control arrange.- ment.

Another...objectyisgtot provide. a rotary steam peelen: wherein .foocL productsxare subjected to a limited. tumblingoperation .duringsteam 1115003555? ing. to: exposeall exterior. parts. totlie action of steam...

A. still @further object. of ithepresent invention is to provide .a steam peelingmechanism. for. food; products. with improved. operating. and. drive characteristics.

Another. objectds. to provide facilities-for. feeding, food. products continuously in. a. generally downward .path during charging, steam. processing, anddischarging operations...

Another.- object. is to provide. facilities. for. steam.peeling: food; products. wherein the. food.

products-.aresubieoted toagravitmtumbling.openation during, steam processing. to expose. all.

partssofreach :product to .steam action.

These and other, obj ects..-and advantages ,oiithe invention will become apparent fromthe following description and theraccompany-ing drawingsin which;

. 1 151a plan yiew .in reducedscale shewing. a steam -.pe.e1er embodying thegpresentinvention. assembled with product. feeding, and. skin. re

moving mechanismsand asteam. condensinghevice, certain .portions.;being broken away,

Fig.2 ,is .aisideyiew of Big 1, certainrportions. being broken away to .shorwlinterior construction Rig. 3 ,is. arfragmentary, partially rotated, axial. section in enlarged scale of the. rotary. steam,

peeler taken alongthe-broken line file-30f Fig, 4. Fig. .4 is a. vertical section .takenalong the line 4-401? Fig. 3:.

in Fig. 5,

2 Fig." 'l 'is" a -fragmentary elevationoffl'a portiom of "a springysupporting :pressure yring Referring now= to the drawings; the-' assembl'y shown in Figs. 1 and- 2 'includes a-y liquid treating or washing va-t-fl'in-whioh-food products tOrUBr peeled are cleaned and then are dischargednntosa pocketed conveyor B. The--conveyor travels. upwardly along "an inclined-guideway so matm dividual=pookets-in the conveyonwi-ll be tilted rca-rwardlyto-tilt" off excess food productselaeyonda the capacity of individualpockets? The food? products are dischargedin a usual manner fromv the upper: end of the" conveyor B and drop; gravity downwardly; through" a hepp r into pocketsofa-rotary'steampeelerflgtobe descrihedt iii-detail, laterherein:

From discharge outlet m the lower sidew of thesteampeeler; th8pIOdllCtSi are releesed andt drop by gravity through a steam condensers; Elf and onto a shaker spray table F where tlre slcins of theproducts; 1oosened by their passagethrough the" steammeeler-D; are removed-i While -beihg carried. along this" shaker table the products. are subj ected to water spray washing to free theme from-their skins; Allzof the: above devices, with the exceptionof the rotary steampeeler andtthe steam condenser; are well known in l the art.

A drive-moton-G of the controllable-speed type is mounted to drive the steam-peelerD and'rthe conveyorB; anclasimilarly; controllable speed:

drive motor H isv moi-rnteel' todrive the feed? mechanism of, the vat A. Theshaker 1 table F also is proyidediwith a usual -drive-motor=1t Referring now to the' details of l the particular embodiment" of the rotary; steam peeler il-t.

. withstands. the corrosive" action: of the. various? fruit and vegetable juices to" which: it is sub jectedin use;

The cylindrical central housing portion 12 has;

an.in1et opening 15. in the upper portion there:-

.l of: andla dischargeppening? I T! in" its-glower'quadt rant below the: inlet opening; The -:relative -p o sitions offthese openings are*besbshowmimlflg; a r A plurality off steam. supply passages.:.. I811 for: supplying steam: to" the: interior} of the, rotor housing I 0'" comprise semi-cylindrical shells I an;

. 3 I91), I90, ltd, and lee, Figs. 3 and 4. These shells are mounted transversely of the cylindrical body portion I2 to overlie rows of aligned holes 20 through the cylindrical wall of the housing. The shells It may comprise half sections of pipe cut longitudinally on their mid-planes and welded to the housing. The end or" these shells are closed by semi-disc shaped plates 2i, Fig. 3, welded thereto. Each of the four uppermost shells Isa, I91), I90, and ltd is connected by pipes 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d, respectively, to a steam header pipe 23, which, in turn, is connected to a suitable source of steam under pressure. A discharge or pressure relief pipe 24 is connected in a similar manner to the lowermost shell I9e.

Each of the pipes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, and 24 preferably has a manually controlled valve, such as the valve 25, mounted to control the flow of steam therethrough. The shells i9 and their associated rows of openings 29 through which steam is supplied to and released from the interior of the housing Iii are spaced apart by angular distances substantially equal to those between adjacent radial partitions of the productfeeding rotor II to be described in detail later herein.

A pair of bell shaped end closure members 21 and 28 are mounted one on each end of the central housing portion I2, and are secured thereto as by cap screws 29. Sealing gaskets 3i and 3| are mounted in grooves in the end closure members to engage the end faces of the central housing portion I2 to form a steam tight seal therewith. The end housings preferably have inwardly extending annular flanges 32 adapted to fit closely within the ends of the cylindrical central housing portion to position the end members accurately in coaxial relation to the housing, and to secure the parts against relative axial displacement.

A tubular rotor shaft 33 is journaled coaxially of the central housing portion I2 (Fig. 3). The left hand end of the rotor shaft, as illustrated in Fig. 3, is counterbored to receive a cup shaped bearing support 36. This bearing support has a threaded hole 35 in the bottom thereof into which a bolt, not shown, may be screwed to permit withdrawing this member when required for maintenance purposes. I

This bearing support member 34 closes oif the bore of the tubular rotor shaft and provides inner support for the outer race 31 of a double row ball thrust bearing 38. This outer bearing race is retained against axial outward displacement by an annular retaining flange 39 which is secured to the rotor shaft as by screws 40.

The rotor shaft is sealed to the end closure member by a usual packing gland M. This gland retains packing 52 in a recess formed in an annular member as welded on the inside of the end closure member 27 around a central shaft opening 44 therein. The packing gland M is drawn down into sealing position by cap screws 45. The inner race 47 of the ball bearing 38 is mounted on the cylindrical inner portion 48 of a stud 49. The inner race ll is held solidly against a shoulder 50 on the stud by a retaining nut I which is screwed onto the threaded inner end of thestud. I

An intermediate portion 52 of the stud is tapered to have a close fit within a similarly tapered central opening in a mounting plate 53- This tapered portion of the stud is slightly shorter than the length of the tapered opening in which it is mounted. The stud is drawn. down "of each pocket, and pocket liners II, which prefto a close rigid fit within its tapered opening by a nut 54 and lock washer 55. The mounting plate 53 is secured by cap screws 56 in steam tight relation to an annular support 5! welded concentrically of the end closure member 21.

The other or right hand end of the rotor shaft is counterbored similarly to the left hand end thereof, previousl described, and is supported in a generally similar manner. The right hand end, however, is supported on a two row roller bearing 58 which allows limited axial adjustment of the shaft to compensate for expansion and contraction which may be caused by sudden relative changes in temperature between the rotor shaft 33 and the rotor housing II].

The rotor II is mounted on the rotor shaft 33 and is secured thereto as by positioning pins 59 (Fig. 3). The rotor has a hollow central hub portion 60, the ends of which taper outwardly, as at GI and 62. The outer ends of the rotor hub are bored to receive the shaft 33 therein. Vent holes 63 communicate between the interior of the hollow hub portion 60 and the housformed integrally with the hub. The peripheries of these rotor, end plates are spaced inwardly from the inside of the cylindrical central housing portion I2 to provide edge clearance as at 61, Figs. 3 and 4. A plurality of planiform radial partitions 68 are formed integrally with the rotor hub 60 and annular end plates 64 and 65. In the form illustrated, Fig. 4, nine of these radial partitions are provided, which form nine intermediate fruit or vegetable receiving pockets 69 therebetween. An inwardly extending boss I0 is provided interiorly around the marginal edge erably area fabricated from stainless steel sheet, are mounted on the bosses by machine screws 12.

A sealing groove I3 of rectangular section is provided in the radially outward edge of each of the partitions 68, and a sealing vane i l of T configuration in cross section has a stem portion 15 thereof adapted to fit closely and slidably within the groove I3. The radially outward head surface of the T section vane is curved to conform to the interior surface of the central housing portion I2. A plurality of coil compression springs 11 are mounted in holes 18 drilled in the bottom of each of the grooves I3. as best shown in Fig. 3, and bear against a stiff metal strip I9 which is inserted between the springs 11 and the sealing vanes 14.

The purpose of the intermediate strip 79 is I3 after the rotor II has been mounted in the central housing portion I2, and while at least one of the end closure members 21 or 28 is removed therefrom. The strip 19 thus acts to compress each of the springs H as the inserted end of the sealing vane approaches it upon insertion of the vane.

Rotor end sealing rings 89 and 8%, Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are mounted to bear against the marginal portion of the outer face of each of the rotor end plates 64 and 65. The sealing rings are similar to, but reversed from, each other. They are machined to have a tight sealing fit against the rotor end plates, and also, peripherally, against the inside of the rotor housing It. In makin the sealing rings, they first are machined to have a slightly larger diameter than the housing. Then a segment, as at 82, Figs. 5 and 6, is cut therefrom to leave ends 33 and 84,,Figs. 5 and 6,.spaced apart.

A gap sealing plate 235 of still? sheet material, such as stainless steel, is fitted into recesses 81 and til on the inner side faces of the sealin rings beyond the ends $33 and 8 6, respectively. The inner face of the gap sealing plate 85, which is the right hand face, as illustrated in Fig. 6, then lies flush with the remainder of the inner face of the ring. The gap sealing plate is secured to one end of the ring as by rivets 89. Its other end normally is spaced slightly from the end of the recess in which it is mounted as at 9t. When the ring is compressed, however, to fit into the cylindrical bore of the rotor housing, the end of the gap sealing plate is adapted to lie closely adjacent the end of its recess.

When thus compresed, the natural spring of the metal from which the sealing ring is made urges it radially outwardly toward sealing relation with the housing. However, an additional, and adjustable, rin expanding force for urging the sealing ring into close peripheral engagement with the bore of the rotor housing may be provided by a coil compression spring ill, one end of which is mounted over a stud S2 threaded into the end of the sealing ring. The other end of the spring iii abuts against a washer t3 supported on an enlarged intermediate portion of a pressure adjusting screw as. The adjusting screw has one end 9?! thereof adapted to be inserted within the coil spring al. The other end as of the adjusting screw is threaded to screw into a threaded opening as in the other end 33 of the sealing ring.

A plurality of wrench holes 99 are provided transversely through the enlarged intermediate portion Qt of the pressure adjusting screw to receive a pin or nail, not shown; which can be used as a wrench for turn ng the screw A lock nut Illll is provided to secure the screw 95 in adjusted position.

The rotor end sealing rings as and ti are pressed into endwise sealing engagement with the rotor by a plurality of compression springs IUI, Fig. 3, which are mounted in sockets IE2, Figs. 3 and 7, of a pair of spring mounting, pressure adjusting rings 5%. The pressure adjusting rings are here illustrated as being mounted one each of the end. closure members and 23. The spring mounting are free for limited axial move ment. Each comprises a ring I83 of angular cross section, as shown in Fig. 3, with a plurality of sockets K02, whichrnay comprise short lengths of-pipe of suitable internal diameter, welded at selected intervals within the angle of the ring. The axes of these sockets preferably are parallel to each other and to the axis of the ring.

Adjustment of the pressure exerted by the springs It! against the sealin rings Bil and 8| is provided by a plurality of adjusting screws I04. These screws are screwed through threaded openings in the end closure members 2? and 28 and studs its welded thereon. The inner end portions of the adjusting screws are unthreaded as at ldl' and pass through guide holes in brackets it'll welded to extend inwardly from the sides of the end closure members. Sealing caps I639 are threaded onto the studs E95 to enclose the head ends of the adjusting screws to seal them against the escape of steam from the housing after turnv and 8| are anchored againstrotation relatively to the housing by an elongated socket I II) with an anchor pin IiI slidably mounted therein. The sockets IHl preferably are of smaller diameter than the spring sockets IE2. Thcseanchoring sockets I II project axially outwardly beyond the spring mounting ring IE3, as shown in Fig. 3, and are inserted in brackets i I2 welded to th inner face of the end closure members?! and 2t, respectively. A spring H3 is held in compression between the outer end of each anchoring pin II I and the inner end of its socket Ilfl to force the inner end of the pin into an indentation I I4, Figs. 3, 5, and 6, in the outer face of each sealing ring.

A plurality of radially disposed ribs Hi5 are formed. on the outer face of the left hand rotor end plate fi l asishown in' Fig. 3. Seats II! are machined on the outer ends of these ribs. for mounting a bevel ring gear I Hi thereon. The ring gear is secured to the rotor by nuts I Is screwed onto studs 526, which, in turn, are screwed into threaded openings in the rotor.

A drive pinion IEI is keyed to a drive shaft I22 which passes through a usual packing gland I23 to prevent the escape of steam from between the drive shaft and. the housing. The pinion has toothed driving engagement with the ring gear I I8.

An inspection opening I24 is provided in the end closure member 2'! adjacent the pinion and is closed by a usual oval sealing plate I25. The sealing plate is retained in position by a usual bolt I2? and bridging member I28.

In order to release any steam which might be trapped in the grooves 73 beneath the T-shaped sealing vanes id before they pass into registry with the discharge opening ll of the housing it, a recess I29, see Figs. 4., 5, and 6, is provided in the inner face of the sealing ring 8i to register with each groove "it, see Fig. 3, beneath its respective sealing vane just prior to, and during the time the sealing vane passes into registry with the discharge opening. This recess H29 opens into a compression fitting E35 threadedly inserted in the opposite side of the ring from the recess I23. A tube IE2 is connected to the compression fitting and passes outwardly through a packing gland I33 mounted in an opening in the housing end closure member 28. The tube I32 opens to the atmosphere at a suitable point of discharge.

The condensing hood. E for catching and condensing any steam which may escape from the rotor pockets it as they open into the discharge opening H, see Figs. 1 and 2, comprises an elongated sheet metal hood I34. The open inner end of the hood is secured to the rotor housing to surround the rotor discharge opening IT. A dis charge opening I 35 also is provided in the bottom of the hood I 3 to permit the peeled products and spray water and condensate to pass by gravity therethrough.

A planiform dividing sheet I3? is mounted within the hood transversely thereof at a slight, acute angle from its longitudinal mid-plane. The lower end of this dividing sheet is spaced from the discharge opening I! of the rotor housing I I) so as not to interfere with the flow of food products discharged therefrom. The upper end of the dividing sheet l3l is spaced from the upper inner end of the hood. This sheet thus divides the hood into a pair of tapered passages I33 and I39 which taper from their inlet toward their discharge ends.

A plurality of perforated water spray pipes I40 are mounted across the tapered passages I38 and aces-31cm I359 their." spray openings being: pointed. in. the direction of. air. and'steam flow which itis dee sired" to=induce through the condenser.

Byvthis arrangement: any residual steam released from: the rotor pockets atj the; time they openinto' the-discharge Opening will be drawn upwardly: over the upper surface of the dividing sheet; I31 and thence. through the tapered. pas sages-l38 andillfi inthe direction of.:the arrows in Fig.2. During this how through the condenser any such. steam. Willi be effectively condensed. This condensing; of? the: discharge steam may be important at: times, since under. some conditions, for; example; when peeling vegetables or fruit whichhave .beenstored for some time, ithas been found helpful to treat'thevegetables with acorrosive substance, suchas a lyebath, before subjecting. them to steam peeling;

In". operating: the illustrated embodiment of the present: invention, the rctor. H is driven to rotateinthe directionof' thearrows. i la in Figs. 2 and 4.. The rotor speed isaadjustedthrough the adjustable speedidrivemotor l, and-the speed of feed of; food products; through the washing or treating-vat A is regulatedby its adjustable speed motor; H,,to conform: with the rate of travel of the conveyorBso' as: to; fill each: pocket of the conveyor to a suitable degree. The rate of travel of thezconveyor, in turn, isicoordinated with that of therotary steam .peeler D, so that as each successive pocketfiil O'ffthGiIOtOl of the steam peeler is: presented in a". substantially upright position to the intake opening: 45in the rotor housing it, the rotorpoclret will'be filled with the products to be peeled. The amount supplied to each rotor pocketshould be such that none Of'the product will be:damaged by shearing when the pocket of the rotor isswungbeyond the intake opening by rotationof the rotor. A suitable charging. rate has beenfoundzto beapproximately 80 to 85% of capacity.

The uppermost steam inlet pipe 22a has the flow 'ofasteam therethrough adjusted by the manually controlled valve 25 so that sufiicient steam will beintroduced into each product filled rotor pocket, before it is sealed oil. from the charging opening 15, to purge the pocket of air.

The three next lower steam inlet lines 222); 22c, and 2203 preferably have theircon rol valves opened to prov-idea full. flow of ist'eam. throughthe. passages 8.1 and. the openings 29 into the rotor pockets Thelowermost. pipe, is preferably is: arranged to dischargeto theatmosphere so that each rotor pocketv will. be substantially relieved of. steampressure before moving,intoxregistration with the discharge opening ll. Steam trapped. beneath the; scaling: vanes will. be released by the: ree

teringof. the vane.grooveslfiwith the recess 12%? which frees. theitrappedzstealnior passage to the atmosphere through the fitting 3i andzthe tube I32. Any residualsteamwhich remains in the pocket. as it opens into the: discharge opening willlbe; dischargedand:drawn up. into the hood.

E and condensed.

As: the pockets ity throughthedischarge opening, During thisv transition, the food products in each pocket will,

be itumbledover, each other. dueto .the swinging inverting movement... of... the. pocket. to expose. all

register with the discharge opening, itwvill be-noted thatzthey have swun 8: parts of theproducts to ther action of ".the steams After being discharged from the peeler, the: products are. subjected to spray Washing onith'e? shaker table F to=separate theskins-from" the peeled products.

While I have illustrated and described'a preferred embodiment: of my invention, it Willibez. understood by those familiar Withthe art that: the device :is capable: oi'modification .Without dee parting. from thespirit of my invention.- It: isv desired, therefore, not to limit the inventionex cept as defined in the following claims.-

Having: thusdescribed my invention, What-.1. claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Fatent is:

l. A; steam .peelerifor peeling thin slrinnedfood": products: comprising a. chamber of? circularver tical cross sectional shape, a rotor having a plu rality of peripherally exposed food receiving:

pockets therein pivoted on a horizontalaxiscon centrically of the chamber, to swing the rotor pockets in a verticalplane about said common. axis, said chamber havim charging opening. downwardly directed discharging opening therein spaced apart in one rotative direction about. the common axis by an angular distance substantially greater-thanthe angular extent of one of said pockets, a sealing ring on each side. of said pockets in sealing relation with said chamber and raidrotor to seal off said Docketsfrom said chamber laterally erteriorly thereof; a sealing strip mountedibetween acent pockets" and biased. toward. sealing. engagement with the chamber between. said. charging and discharging: openings to seal adjacent. pockets from each: other, steam pressure supply means, a passage: interconnecting each pocket with said steamsup plymeans during its movement from vthechaming to the discharging'opening and'terminating: short of thedischarging opening to raise the teme perature of subcutaneous moisture of. said prod+ ucts above its atmospheric boiling point, and; steam pressure release. means opening from each. pocket beyond said steam pressure suppl means: to reduce the pressure in the pocket substantially to atmospheric thereby'to vaporize such heated: subcutaneous moisture of food-products inthe pocketitofree. theskinthereor" from the product- 2. An arrangement as set forth in. claim: 1 wherein the sealing strips are mounted in scale ing grooves extending transversely betweenzthe: sealing rings, one of saidsealing rings having'a' recess therein laterally adjacent the chamber:- discharge opening and at a radial distance from: the rotor axis. to communicate with each ofi'said grooves prior to their entrance into the discharge opening, and means connecting. said" re--- cess to the atmosphere to release steam which may be trapped in the'grooves beneath the sealmg strips.

Wgrlig aggalngeirlliennrt Us? forth in claim- 1. thereof to form sepa ate it; slde s e, a plate. flush. mounted in the sides of said ends to'bridge'saidi. ggg g f fiig i p te being secured to one; I g 0 permitllmzted radial flexin of l and ad ustab-le spring pressed ex? pa d g means interposed in: biased conditionv between the ring. ends to exert a resilient ex- Danding forceon said ring; v I p gass ggngfii s gg n lehng thin" skinned food'f. rizo t 1 cy indrical chamber-1 m; I n a .axis, saldchamber'havmg;an;upwardeexposed chargmg pening; and" a. downwardly directed discharging opening therein, end closure members secured to said chamber, a plate having an inwardly projecting bearing support sealed over an opening centrally of an end plate, a bearing race secured on said support, a rotor shaft having an axial end opening therein, a second cooperating bearing race in said shaft opening mounted coaxially with said first race, rolling elements interposed between the inner and outer races to form a friction reducing sealed bearing rotatably supporting the shaft coaxially of the rotor chamber, a hub mounted concentrically on the shaft to rotate therewith, a plurality of partition walls extending in radial planes from said hub and terminating short of the chamber wall, a pair of circular rotor end plates overlying the ends of said partition walls to form therewith a plurality of peripherally open product receiving pockets adapted to open successively to the charging and discharging openings of said chamber upon predetermined rotative movement of the rotor, said plates being spaced axially inwardly from said end closure members, steam pressure supply means for injecting steam under pressure into said pockets during rotor rotative movement to purge air therefrom and to raise the temperature of subcutaneous moisture of products in said pockets above their atmospheric boiling point, said steam passages terminating beyond the angular extent of a pocket ahead of the discharge opening, and a steam pressure release passage opening exteriorly of the chamber adjacent the discharge opening to reduce pressure in the pocket and thereby free the heated subcutaneous moisture for vaporization to release the skin from the product, and driving means for the rotor comprising a drive gear mounted concentrically on one of the rotor end plates, a packing gland mounted in an opening in the end closure member adjacent the ring gear, a drive shaft pivoted in sealed relation in a packing gland, and a driving pinion secured to the inner end of the drive shaft in toothed drive engagement with the ring gear.

5. A steam peeler for fruits and vegetables comprising a casing and a rotor mounted for turning therein, said rotor having pockets therein for moving the products in said casing, and sealing means connected with each of said. pockets to individually seal the latter in said casing comprising radially outwardly urged vanes disposed in sealing contact with the casing, and annular sealing means carried by said casing and disposed in axial contact with the pocket ends and with said vanes to thus completely seal each pocket of the rotor at the casing end thereof.

6. A steam peeler for food products such as fruit and vegetables comprising a stator having a cylindrical bore, a rotor mounted co-axially therein and having a plurality of product receiving pockets in the periphery thereof, a seal ing strip of length equivalent to the axial dimension of said pockets mounted between adjacent pocirets and biased toward sealing engagement with said stator bore, a sealing ring on each side of said rotor in resilient sealing engagement with said. stator bore, and means urging said ring axially into sealing engagement with the ends of said pockets and said sealing strips.

7. A steam peeler for fruits and vegetables comprising a casing and a rotor mounted for turning therein, said rotor having pockets therein for moving the products in said casing, and sealing means connected with each of said pockets to individually seal the latter in said casing comprising radially outwardly urged vanes disposed in sealing contact with the casing, and annular sealing means operatively disposed between said rotor and casing in axial contact with the pocket ends and with said vanes to thus completely seal each pocket of the rotor at the casing end thereof.

WILLIAM DE BACK.

Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,173,230 Vandreuil Feb. 29, 1916 1,596,135 Wilson Aug. 17, 1926 2,086,539 De Bethume July 13, 1937 2,213,453 Schmidt dept. 3, 1940 2,490,112 Winters Dec. 6, 1949 2,534,648 Wilbur Dec. 19, 1950 

